Wayne Frederick Bio

Dr. Wayne Frederick was appointed the 17th president of Howard University in 2014. Dr. Frederick previously served as provost and chief academic officer. Most recently, the Howard University Board of Trustees selected Dr. Frederick to serve as the distinguished Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, succeeding his mentor the late Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., the first African American president of the American Cancer Society, as the second person appointed to the prestigious position. Dr. Frederick has advanced Howard University's commitment to student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability. Dr. Frederick has overseen a series of reform efforts, including the expansion of academic offerings, establishing innovative programs to support student success and the modernization of university facilities. Dr. Frederick is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, abstracts, and editorials and is a widely recognized expert on disparities in healthcare and medical education. His medical research focuses on narrowing racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in cancer-care outcomes, especially pertaining to gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Frederick begins his service on the American Cancer Society Board of Directors in 2022.